Search from various English teachers...
Dmitry Anykeen
My phone is ringing off the hook?
What is that supposed to mean?
"My phone is ringing off the hook"
Mar 9, 2016 5:33 AM
Answers · 6
2
Phones do not have "hooks" anymore. In the old days, when a phone was not being used, its receiver (the part that goes against your face) would hang on a metal bracket. The weight of the receiver would pull the bracket down and hang up the phone.
So, a phone that's "ringing off the hook" means it keeps ringing so much or so often, that it falls off the hook.
March 9, 2016
1
Hi,
The phrase "My phone is ringing off the hook" means that it is ringing constantly (i.e. you are receiving a lot of calls). I hope this helps.
Dean
March 9, 2016
1
It means getting a lot of phone calls, especially if the call happen while already on the phone. It references how old house phones would be on a hook when not in use.
March 9, 2016
Still haven’t found your answers?
Write down your questions and let the native speakers help you!
Dmitry Anykeen
Language Skills
English, French, Italian, Russian, Spanish
Learning Language
English, French, Italian, Spanish
Articles You May Also Like

Same Word, Different Meaning: American, British, and South African English
11 likes · 8 Comments

How to Sound Confident in English (Even When You’re Nervous)
13 likes · 11 Comments

Marketing Vocabulary and Phrases for Business English Learners
10 likes · 4 Comments
More articles